Valve Creating X360 Titles

[Shady Fuzz]

Though Valve did an admirable job bringing shooter par excellence Half-Life 2 to Xbox, more than a few gamers wondered why the game, powered as it was by Valve's advanced Source engine, didn't also arrive for Xbox 360, which would certainly offer ample muscle for Gordon Freeman's journey.

While the company is still mum on Half-Life's next-gen console future, Valve did confirm today that it is developing projects for Xbox 360 -- reason enough for gamers to cheer.

Valve isn't announcing any titles just yet -- nor would the company say whether the X360 projects are new properties or based on existing franchises -- but the developer is already creating a customized version of the Source engine to take advantage of Microsoft's new console.

The Source engine, showcased so handily in Half-Life 2, features realistic object physics, deliciously detailed graphics, advanced artificial intelligence, and networking support. Valve's Xbox 360 projects will use the new console's "advanced graphics hardware" and integrate with Xbox Live.

Valve says its first title for Xbox 360 is "coming soon," though the developer isn't ready to be more specific.

"The combination of Source and the 360 provides game designers the chance to create powerful entertainment experiences," said Valve president and co-founder Gabe Newell. "Whether developing a traditional FPS, RTS, RPG or delving into new genres, the Xbox 360 is a great platform for expanding Source and our game experiences."

Of course, Valve's specialty so far has been first-person shooters, so we wouldn't be surprised to see Source-powered FPS action arriving for Xbox 360. Still, with a company this creative, anything is possible. We'll be back as soon as new details emerge.

IGN